Patient information leaflets
telephone: 
It is a mental health condition, when the sufferer is not able to tell what is real from what is not. At times you can feel as if you have lost contact with reality.
What is likely to cause psychosis?
It can be caused by:
- lack of sleep
- severe fever
- withdrawals from drug or alcohol dependency
- certain experiences, or traumatic events
- recreational use of drugs, such as cannabis, ecstasy or LSD and 'legal highs'
- abuse or trauma
- family history
- bereavement
- extreem stress
It is thought that psychosis can run in your family and be passed down from your parents.
How do we identify psychosis?
It may be through changes in your behaviour and the things you say and feel. Friends and family may notice the changes first. However, you may also feel there is nothing wrong with you, which makes it very difficult to ask for help.
The most common symptoms are those of seeing, hearing, smelling, or tasting things, which are not there or experienced by other people. These are called hallucinations.
You may also:
- feel paranoid, perhaps feeling as if people are 'out to get you' - victimised, persecuted or threatened
have unusual beliefs, which are not shared by others. For instance you may believe you are royalty a
celebrity or a religious figure - these are delusions - believe that others are controlling you and your behaviour - these are called delusions
- hear voices that other people don't. These can be positive, helpful and comforting or nasty and hostile
- experience 'flight of ideas' i.e. linking words together because of how they sound rather than what they mean
All of the above may lead to irrational behaviour, determined by your beliefs.
If someone is very distressed by a psychotic episode it can begin to affect their work, family life and may even require admission to hospital.
